Tree-simulating christmas card holder



Sept. 6, 1960 M. z. HOVLID TREE-SIMULATING CHRISTMAS CARD HOLDER FiledApril 22, 1957 MARV z. J-lOl/LID INVENTOR.

BY diam, 4 5

ATToR/vEus.

TREE-SEMULATING CHRISTMAS CARD HOLDER Mary Z. Hovlid, 5271 E. AnaheimRoad, Long Beach, 'Calif.

Filed Apr. 22, 1957, Ser. No. 654,332

2 "Claims. (Cl. 40-124) played in the home. This card holder may also besubstituted for the conventional Christmas tree as an ornamental displaywhen a plurality of Christmas cards have been attached thereto so as toadd to the holiday enjoyment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a treesimulating Christmascard holder which may be readily assembled and disassembled.Accordingly, the holder may be stored between Christmas seasons in acomparatively small space. Additionally, it may be shipped andmerchandised in a comparatively small package.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a treesimulatingChristmas card holder which is simple of design and rugged ofconstruction whereby it may be utilized several seasons before requiringreplacement.

An additional object is to provide a tree-simulating Christmas cardholder which is inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, when taken inconjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of tree-simulatingChristmas card holder embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a branchsimulating elementof said holder; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing how saidbranch-simulating element is aflixed to the trunksimulating element ofsaid holder.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred form of treesimulatingChristmas card holder embodying the present invention includes anupright trunk-simulating post P, a base F secured to the lower portionof this post and a plurality of branch-simulating elements B mountedalong the length of the post P. As will be clear from Figure 1, thebranch-simulating elements B are adapted to receive a plurality ofChristmas cards C.

More particularly, the post P may be formed of wood or plastic andconveniently is of square cross-section. As shown in Figure 3, the postP is formed at its opposite sides with a plurality of longitudinallyspaced bores, the bores on the left side of the post being designated 10and those on the right side being designated 11. The base F includes arear foot 12 and a forwardly extending front foot 13. These members areof generally triangular configuration with their lower edge adapted torest upon a floor or other horizontal supporting surface. The preferredembodiment of holder is adapted to have its rear rates Patent icesurface abut a vertically extending surface, such as a wall or the like.Accordingly, only three foot elements are disclosed. If it is desired toemploy the holder at a distance spaced from a wall an additional footelement may be provided. Alternately, three generally equidistantlyspaced foot elements can be employed. Preferably, the foot elements 12and 13 will be readily securable to and removable from the lower end ofthe post P. Thus, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rear foot 12 isdetachably afiixed to the post P by a bolt and nut combination 14, whilethe front foot 13 is detachably aflixed to the post by a second bolt andnut combination 15 vertically spaced from bolt and nut combination 14.

The branch-simulating elements B are preferably formed of resilientsteel wire. In Figure 2 one of these branch-simulating elements B isshown in its relaxed condition. It will be observed that at this timethis element B is disposed entirely in a horizontal plane with its firstand second ends 19 and 20 in close proximity. In assembling the holderthe two ends 19 and 20 of the branchsimulating elements B are movedapart vertically and inserted within the bores 10 and 11, respectively,of the post P. Inasmuch as such flexing apart of the ends 19 and 20 willplace the branch-simulating elements B in tension, these elements willremain in place upon the post P. Preferably, in the interest of realism,the branch elements B will increase in length from the upper portion ofthe holder to the lower so as to provide an upwardly tapered overallconfiguration. Thereafter, the Christmas cards C may be aflixed alongthe length of each of the branch-simulating elements B, as by tape 22 orthe like.

When the holder is to be disassembled, the wire ends 19 and 20 areremoved from the bores 10 and 11. Additionally, it may be desirable toremove the foot elements 12 and 13 from the lower portion of the post Pby unscrewing the bolt and nut combinations 14 and 15.

While there has been shown and described hereinbefore what is presentlyconsidered to be the preferred embodiment of the present invention itwill be apparent that various modifications and changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A tree-simulating Christmas card holder, comprising; a verticallyextending, trunk-simulating post, said post being formed with aplurality of vertically spaced bores along its length; and a pluralityof card-receiving, branch-simulating, elongated elements formed ofresilient material, each of said elements assuming a substantiallyuniplanar position when in a relaxed condition, the ends of each of saidelements being flexed vertically apart and removably inserted within apair of vertically spaced bores of said post whereby said elements areplaced in tension and will remain in place upon said post.

2. A tree-simulating Christmas card holder as set forth in claim 1wherein the length of said branch-simulating elements increases from theupper portion of said post to the lower portion thereof so as to providesaid holder with a downwardly tapered configuration. v

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.157,082 Patton Jan. 31, 1950 279,810 Richards June 19, 1883 1,038,198Randall Sept. 10, 1912 1,683,637 Trimpe Sept. 11, 1928 2,708,324 WeddenMay 17, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 191,573 Great Britain Ian. 28, 1923 412,322Great Britain June 28, 1934

